Travel Guides & Resources

Browse our complete archive of survival guides, regional breakdowns, and expert tips for the modern traveler.
Multiple Fuxinghao high-speed bullet trains, silver with red and orange stripes, are parked at platforms inside Shenzhen North Railway Station at night. Station signs show '深圳北站' and 'Shenzhen North Railway Station'. Overhead metal structures and lighting are visible.

Beijing to Shanghai High-Speed Rail: The Complete Station & Seat Guide

For travelers in 2026, the debate between flying or taking the train from Beijing to Shanghai is effectively over. The [...]

A vibrant sunrise or sunset over the modern Beijing cityscape, featuring prominent skyscrapers like the tall, slender CITIC Tower (China Zun) reflecting golden light, the distinctive CCTV Headquarters building, and the spiraling dome of the Phoenix International Media Center. A dense canopy of green and golden trees forms the foreground under a sky with dramatic, colorful clouds.

Emergency Travel in China: Vital Phrases, Apps, and Safety Protocols

Traveling to China is an exhilarating experience, but the unique digital ecosystem and language barrier can make even seasoned globetrotters [...]

Two modern Chinese high-speed trains, including a silver Fuxing bullet train with red, orange, and gold stripes, parked side-by-side at a bright station platform. A white high-speed train with blue stripes is to the left. A yellow tactile paving strip is visible on the platform.

China High-Speed Rail for Tourists: Booking, Classes & Onboard Experience

For many travelers, the first time stepping into a Chinese railway station is more overwhelming than the flight that brought [...]

Elevated view of Gulangyu Island showing historic European-style buildings with red roofs, surrounded by dense green trees. In the middle ground, boats dot the sparkling blue water, leading to the modern Xiamen city skyline in the background, featuring numerous tall glass skyscrapers and a long suspension bridge.

Is Xiamen Worth Visiting? Gulangyu Island, Fujian Tulou & Coastal Eats Guide

Xiamen (Amoy) often flies under the radar compared to Beijing or Shanghai, but for savvy travelers in 2026, it represents [...]

High-angle aerial view of the Wukang Mansion, a distinctive triangular red-brick apartment building with curved balconies and a rounded corner, at a street intersection in Shanghai. Two empty, tree-lined streets lead away from the building, and a hazy city skyline fills the background.

Shanghai French Concession Walking Guide: Best Streets & Hidden Cafes

If the futuristic skyline of the Bund is Shanghai’s face, the Former French Concession (FFC) is its soul. While most [...]

A white ceramic pot of spicy Mapo Tofu with cubed tofu, minced meat, red chili oil sauce, and green onion garnish, served next to a white bowl of white rice topped with black sesame seeds, all on a brown woven mat.

Chengdu for Food Lovers: Where and What to Eat in 3 Days

Chengdu hits you before you even see it. Stepping off the train or plane, the air carries a faint, distinct [...]

A dark wooden traditional Chinese-style pavilion with a gray tiled roof and ornate latticework railings in the foreground. In the background, towering, green-covered sandstone pillar mountains rise steeply against a clear blue sky with white clouds.

Zhangjiajie for First-Timers: Avatar Mountains 3–4 Day DIY Guide

Seeing the sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie for the first time is a surreal experience that feels less like China and [...]

A modern Beijing subway train, silver with a blue front and a yellow stripe along its side, travels at speed on elevated tracks. Blurred green trees and tall white apartment buildings are visible in the background.

Beijing Subway Survival Guide: Master the Metro Like a Local

If you attempt to navigate Beijing by taxi during rush hour, you will spend more time looking at the bumper [...]

A large round table in a traditional Cantonese restaurant displaying a wide array of dim sum dishes, including multiple bamboo steamers with various dumplings and buns, a plate of red glutinous rice rolls, fried noodles, congee with fried dough sticks (youtiao), and small bowls of braised dishes.

What to Eat in Guangzhou: Street Food and Dim Sum Neighborhood Guide

Guangzhou is the culinary heartbeat of China. While Beijing has the duck and Sichuan has the spice, Guangzhou (formerly Canton) [...]

The grand Songzanlin Monastery in Shangri-La, with its golden roofs and tiered white and red buildings, sits on a hillside. Below it are smaller structures and a line of bare trees bordering Lamuyangcuo Lake. The entire scene, including the monastery and buildings, is sharply reflected in the calm lake water under a clear blue sky.

Visiting the 'Little Potala Palace': A Guide to Songzanlin Monastery in Shangri-La

Shangri-La, formerly known as Zhongdian, often struggles to live up to the mystical expectations set by James Hilton's Lost Horizon. [...]

Thousands of ancient terracotta warrior statues and horses stand in formation within a vast archaeological excavation pit. The foreground figures are illuminated by warm light, highlighting their earthy details, while countless others recede into the shaded background.

Xi'an 3-Day Itinerary: Terracotta Warriors & Ancient City Highlights

Xi'an is the "Rome of the East," a city where skyscrapers rise alongside 600-year-old walls and the smell of roasting [...]

A modern bathroom featuring grey marble-patterned tiles on the walls and floor. On the left, a walk-in shower with a glass partition and a rainfall showerhead actively spraying water. In the center, a white Western-style smart toilet is positioned next to a small white waste bin. To the right, a floating white vanity with a rectangular sink and a wooden shelf underneath. The bathroom is illuminated by recessed ceiling lights, LED strip lighting in wall niches, and a circular backlit mirror. Various toiletries are arranged on the shelves.

Chinese Public Toilets: A Practical Guide for Travelers (Squat vs. Western)

For many travelers, the biggest source of anxiety isn't the language barrier or the spicy food—it's the restroom situation. If [...]

Several bamboo rafts with people float on a wide, green river. The river is surrounded by dense green trees and towering, rounded karst limestone mountains under a clear blue sky. On the left bank, a stone pier holds onlookers, and a decorative red boat is anchored further downriver near some buildings.

Guilin vs. Yangshuo: Which Is Best for Your Karst Mountain Trip?

You have seen the photos: misty limestone pinnacles rising abruptly from emerald rice paddies. But when it comes to booking [...]

A vibrant, multi-tiered Chinese pagoda with red pillars, golden roofs, and intricate traditional decorations, framed by dark tree branches and scattered golden autumn leaves.

China Mobile Payments: Your Essential Guide to WeChat Pay & Alipay

Picture this: You’ve just landed in Shanghai. You’re jet-lagged, thirsty, and standing in front of a vending machine or a [...]

Large white bins overflowing with dried traditional Chinese medicine roots, including light brown Southern Adenophora Root (Nan Sha Shen) as indicated by the text overlay, displayed at a market in Chengdu. Other containers of various seeds are visible in the background.

Chengdu TCM: Exploring Traditional Chinese Medicine for Travelers

The first thing you notice in Chengdu isn't always the spice of the hotpot; often, it is the earthy, pungent [...]

An aerial perspective of a modern Chinese city showcasing multiple elevated train tracks with several white trains, converging at a large station with an arched reddish-brown roof. A multi-lane highway runs parallel to the rail lines, bustling with cars. In the background, numerous high-rise buildings fill the urban skyline.

Navigating China's Cities: Your Essential Guide to Taxis, Subways & Ride-Hailing

Stepping out of Beijing Capital Airport or Shanghai Pudong, the first thing that hits you isn't just the humidity or [...]

A vibrant overhead view of a large, multi-compartment Chinese hot pot on a table, filled with spicy red broth and surrounded by numerous small bowls and plates of raw ingredients, cooked side dishes, dipping sauces, and drinks. Multiple hands are visible using chopsticks to pick up food from the communal spread.

Chinese Dining Etiquette: A Traveler's Guide to Chopsticks & Table Manners

Picture this: You are seated at a bustling hot pot restaurant in Chengdu. The air is thick with the scent [...]

A deep, narrow canyon with towering, green-vegetated limestone cliffs. A winding wooden walkway with traditional-style roofs is built into the right cliff face. A rocky riverbed with a muddy stream runs through the bottom of the gorge. Distant mountains are shrouded in mist under a cloudy sky.

Beyond the Mainstream: 7 Best Value Hidden Gems in China for Budget Travelers

If you stick to the "Golden Triangle" of Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi'an, your travel budget will evaporate faster than steam [...]

A person wearing a blue hooded jacket and orange hiking pants climbs very steep, uneven stone steps on a dilapidated section of the Great Wall. Other hikers are visible further up the crumbling path under a bright blue sky with scattered white clouds. Sparse green trees and bushes grow alongside the ancient stone wall.

Hiking the Great Wall: Best Sections, Trails & Logistics for Travelers

Standing on a watchtower at sunset, watching the stone dragon wind over ridges that disappear into the mist, is the [...]

A giant, geometric black and white panda sculpture clings to the corner of a modern glass-clad building. The building prominently displays the silver 'IFS' logo and Chinese characters. In the background, another tall blue glass skyscraper rises against a partly cloudy sky, and a partial 'UNIQLO' sign is visible below the panda.

Chengdu's Modern Art Scene: Galleries, Street Art & Creative Spaces

Most travelers land in Sichuan’s capital solely for the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base or the numbing heat of a [...]

A bustling street scene in Hong Kong features a historic peach-colored building with a green spire and cross, flanked by modern high-rises. Two iconic double-decker trams, one white and blue (number 169) and one yellow (number 79), are visible on the tracks. Pedestrians, cars, and other vehicles fill the busy intersection.

Top 10 Must-Visit Attractions in Hong Kong for First-Time Travelers

Hong Kong hits you with a wall of humidity and sensory overload the moment you step outside the airport. It [...]

A composite image depicting the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China, across four distinct seasons. From left to right: snow-covered winter with bare trees and white ground; spring with cherry blossoms, melting snow, and budding greenery; lush green summer under a bright blue sky; and vibrant red and golden autumn foliage with fallen leaves on the ground.

China Packing List by Season & Region: What to Bring for Every Trip

Packing for a trip to the Middle Kingdom is significantly more complex than a weekend getaway to Paris or a [...]

A dark green Chinese train car with a prominent yellow stripe is parked at a station platform. The train windows reflect the overhead white metal truss roof structure of the station. Yellow textured safety strips run along the platform edge. Text on the train car reads 'YW 25G 686482 硬卧'.

Slow Travel in China: A Guide to the Iconic Green Trains (K, T, Z)

While China’s futuristic high-speed rail network grabs the headlines, the soul of the country still travels on the "Green Skins" [...]

View from a traditional wooden guesthouse balcony overlooking a rural village built into green mountains, with terraced rice paddies and cultivated fields below. Decorative wooden bells hang from the visible wooden ceiling beams, under a blue sky with white clouds.

Unique Stays in China: Boutique Hotels, Guesthouses & Temple Retreats

Most travelers rushing through the Middle Kingdom end up in generic glass towers in Shanghai or Beijing. They miss the [...]